Landlord fined for ‘extremely dangerous’ rental property

A private landlord has been ordered to pay just over £1,000 after being found guilty of providing an ‘extremely dangerous’ rental property that was in a poor state of repair.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court heard that landlord Joe Burgess, of Newark Road, Lincoln, had failed to comply with housing regulations for his rental property in Newtoft, which consisted of unsafe electrics, no heating, severe damp and a leaking roof.

West Lindsey District Council had served notices on the landlord, but after he failed to comply the council incurred considerable costs making the property safe for occupation.

Burgess was found guilty but fined just £440, and ordered to pay £400 legal costs, £376 investigation costs and a victim surcharge of £44.

Councillor Sheila Bibb, chairman of the council’s Prosperous Communities Committee, commented: “This is the second successful prosecution we have undertaken this year and demonstrates the council’s commitment to tackling criminal and rogue landlords.

“We hope this case sends a clear message to landlords that we will use all of the powers available to us if they do not comply with our requests when we serve formal notices. Nobody should have to live in unsafe accommodation in the district.

“In this day and age there is no excuse for landlords who choose to ignore the law and we intend to continue to pursue them wherever their properties may be in our district. I would like to thank officers for their excellent work on this case.”